He’s football-mad

A FED up postmaster has lost count of the number of times he has asked youths to stop kicking balls into his garden. Bashir Choglay has faced an almost daily battle with youths kicking footballs over the fenced-in pitch into the back garden of his house on Blackburn Road, Accrington.

A FED up postmaster has lost count of the number of times he has asked youths to stop kicking balls into his garden.

Bashir Choglay has faced an almost daily battle with youths kicking footballs over the fenced-in pitch into the back garden of his house on Blackburn Road, Accrington.

The dad-of-six said his younger children, Khalid, 10, Muhammed Ali, eight, and Yousaf, two, cannot even play in the back garden because they are too scared.

Mr Choglay said: "At the beginning I gave footballs back but after a while I gave up. Now I give some of the balls to other children that I know who don’t live in the area.

"It isn’t one group in particular that has been the problem. They are all ages and from all backgrounds."

The pitch was built by Hyndburn Council, who own the land just off Dale Street, in 2008. Nearby church Oasis is responsible for looking after it.

Since the pitch was first built Mr Choglay has collected six bin bags full of footballs

Mr Choglay said he has spoken with church officials and the council about the issue but feels nothing has been done to improve things.

Michael Whittaker of Oasis Church said: "The council approached us and other neighbourhood groups about looking after these play areas. We decided to take it on. We recognise there are issues that Mr Choglay faces. We are looking at ways to raise the fence.

"We want to work with Mr Choglay and the council to find a solution to this problem."